B.C. dealers honour Brian Higgins

SURREY, B.C. — The Building Supply Industry Association of BC has presented the Industry Merit Award to Brian Higgins. Higgins (pictured left, with Ray Cyr of Fraser Valley Building Supplies) was general manager of UAP Inc. for Ontario in the 1980s before overseeing the national launch of the Autopro franchise. Settling in Victoria in 1986, he set up a Beaver Lumber franchise and married his wife, and business partner, Sylvia in 1989. The Higgins’ franchise moved to the Home Hardware banner in 1995 and relocated to Victoria West as BayWest Home Building Centre. It operated under that name for a decade before joining RONA as BayWest RONA. Brian and Sylvia sold the business in 2015 and retired.